Is Rhode Island doing enough to support entrepreneurs?

A recent study suggests Rhode Island is lagging behind most other states in its support for entrepreneurs.

Eton Venture Services ranked Rhode Island with the fourth-fewest number of new business filings per capita, based on U.S. Census Bureau data in 2022, the most recent year available.

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The study called Rhode Island an “entrepreneurial desert,” with 994 filings per 100,000 residents that year. By comparison, West Virginia ranked lowest with 776 filings per 100,000 residents and Wyoming the highest at 7,149 filings per 100,000 residents.

An R.I. Commerce Corp. spokesman disputed the suggestion the state is lagging in its support for new businesses.

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“Rhode Island is not falling behind at all,” said Commerce spokesman Matthew Touchette.

He claims the state has also made recent progress in becoming a more entrepreneur-friendly, with moves to cut the tangible property tax and the litter tax.

Massachusetts had the 6th-fewest new business applications per 100,000 residents. Connecticut ranked No. 21.

Is Rhode Island doing enough to support entrepreneurs?